Troubled bridge over the Interstate

On May 31, a meeting to gather citizen feedback about possible improvements to the Ashland Road/Interstate 64 interchange was held at the Centerville Company 3 Fire-Rescue station.

Goochland County expects to submit an application to be considered for Virginia’s Smart scale program funding in August.  Kimley-Horn, the engineering firm retained to help with preparation  of the application, shared three possible solutions to mitigate rush hour gridlock able to handle traffic increases expected through 2045.

Tom Coleman, a principal planner with the county, explained the three possible options. They were: a partial cloverleaf; two roundabouts with “truck aprons” to accommodate  large and heavy industrial traffic;  and a “diverging diamond” traffic pattern similar to that at the Zion Crossroads interchange in Louisa County.

Thanks to Betty Nuckols for passing along the link to this informative video about diverging diamonds. https://youtu.be/eLAwwl3EtN4

The Smart Scale program, designed to fund regionally important road improvements, is very competitive, said Coleman. There are no guarantees that this project will “win” funding. The county may resubmit applications every other year. “Winning” projects will be announced sometime in the Spring of 2019. It will pursue other funding options.

Each alternative includes a second two lane bridge over I64 and finally acknowledges that four lanes are needed to handle traffic.

Coleman said that the partial cloverleaf is the most expensive and least functional choice. He and Kimley-Horn representative conceded that the double roundabout, even with spiffy truck aprons, could be clog the works if large trucks were to tip over while traversing them. A recent wreck at the Temple Avenue roundabout near I95 was cited as an example of this.  The best option, he contended, is the diverging diamond, which moves traffic to the opposite side of the road, reduces conflict points, and keeps vehicles moving albeit at a slow but safe speed..

All options have hefty price tags. The double roundabout is estimated at $30 million; the diverging diamond at $31 million. The partial cloverleaf, which was presented as the least favorable option perhaps a bit more due to rights of way acquisition. Some federal money may be available for the project.

The meeting room was filled with citizens who expressed healthy skepticism about the proposals. One woman, however, said that she works near Zion Crossroads and uses the diverging diamond road there every day. At first, she said, she thought the configuaration was daft. But after using it, she believes that it improves traffic flow and is the best and safest of the three proposed alternatives.

In response to a question about the incidence of vehicle accidents and fatalities at Zion Crossroads before and after the installation of the diverging diamond, the Kimley-Horn representative said that wrecks decreased from 25 to 12 and serious injuries from 12 to 2.

Included in the proposal is the cost of  moving the exiting park and ride, whose current location would be gobbled up by road changes. In all scenarios, the park and ride will move to the west side of Ashland Road south of the interchange, roughly opposite open acreage used for Field Day of the Past parking. It will be enlarged to handle more vehicles.

All proposed options, said Coleman, are at a very high level. Details will be addressed closer to completion.

Coleman speculated that if Goochland wins Smart Scale  funding for the project and all the stars align, it might be completed in ten years. In reality, it could take much  longer. Actual construction could take more than two years. This all means that until at least 2030, twelve years from now, Ashland Road and I-64 will be remain a malfunction junction at certain times of the day.

At some unknown point in the future, Ashland Road may be widened to four lanes, speculated Coleman. How and when this will happen, is anyone’s guess. Until then, vehicles negotiating this interchange will continue to play chicken. People who live along Ashland Road will continue to use their current rush hour strategy of “gun it and pray” to exit their driveways among dump trucks, tractor trailers, and other vehicles zooming along.

If you have any comments or questions about these proposals, please contact Tom Coleman at tcoleman@goochlandva.us before June 30. The Supervisors are expected to consider these proposals at their July 3 meeting so the Smart scale application can be submitted by August 1.